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This is the final installment to the question that was so thoughtfully asked by a bride, Lisa.
She originally wrote…
Dear Nancy
…Not to be snarky, but can you please explain why my florist charged $250 for a bouquet of peonies when I found an eight stem bunch at Whole Foods that very same week for $12.99?
Lisa
A couple days ago, I started to answer Lisa’s question on the cost of peonies, writing about Perceived Value and Pricing.
Today’s issue centers around why local grocery stores and warehouse stores are able to carry flowers at or below wholesale. For the answer, I have consulted the wonderfully talented, Amy Marella of Hidden Garden, for insight. There are several issues going on:
1) Bulk Quantities - Flushing
It is not uncommon to find Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Costco with a wide assortment of flowers. These wholesale warehouses and grocery chains buy their flowers in “bulk” and/or buy flowers that are “flushing” from the growers. I had never heard this term before Amy used it. Amy was kind enough to help define the term. “Flushing” occurs when flowers are coming in great abundance and the grower is willing to get rid of them quickly/cheaply because they have a very large quantity.
Amy states, “this is not to say that the flowers at these locations might not be perfect, but they are not hand picked by the buyers”. Given that - each week these outlets have differing stock. There is never a guarantee of what you might see at your local grocery store like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Safeway. These large corporations have the buying power to purchase in “bulk” therefore offering consumers much lower prices than a local floral shop who doesn’t buy in the quantities that a large, national grocery store could.
It excites me to no end when I get to do photo shoots. This one was done with a fantastic team including the ever talented Kevin Chin, Anne Millett of Mira Aster, Classic Party Rentals, and Utterly Engaged Magazine.
Dear Nancy
…Not to be snarky, but can you please explain why my florist charged $250 for a bouquet of peonies when I found an eight stem bunch at Whole Foods that very same week for $12.99?
Lisa
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A week ago I bumped into a floral friend. As always, we were talking shop. We were both at the end of our busy season so to say that we looked a little “beaten down” was an understatement. Both of us had dark circles under our eyes, hair a little out of place, and shoulders sagging from feeling weary about the season ahead. Both lacked sleep. Tired. Yulp.
After spending some time chatting, she mentioned that after 20+ years in the wedding floral business, she was struggling with paying the bills. And that she didn’t have much to show for it. After seeing so many ups and downs, she said that this year was the worst.
If someone with her experience is still having trouble making ends meet after investing 20 years in this business, then what can we learn from this?
During these times, it’s hard to feel bullish (confident and upbeat). Given that my background is finance, I often seem to have a “bear” mentality when it comes to business and consumer confidence, though on a personal level, I think I’m more glass-half-full than the glass-half-empty type.
In business and when it comes to consumer confidence, I confess that I’m conservative and bearish all the way (a bear investor or analyst is one that is “accompanied by widespread fear and pessimism” as defined by Wikipedia. ). And because I am bearish, this is what I have to say to those who are thinking of starting a career as a floral designer or a florist (or more simply put - anyone just going into business for yourself).
This was indeed one of the more memorable weddings of 2009. I love love love doing modern classic weddings and I love very sleek and uber chic venues. And sleek to some might be boring, but for me, if done well in the right venue (and the St. Regis is such a venue ), it’s very polished.
If anyone knew how I live, they would know that my personal design style is very minimal, sleek, contemporary, and totally Design within Reach, so I love it when I get to do simple yet meaningful designs. This “Orchid, Bamboo, & Stone” motif wedding for Cheralin and James this past June was a wonderful experience and I hope you enjoy the images.
Kirsty Edwards the gifted photographer for this wedding did these amazing boards. She is also incredibly nice. You can see even more images on her blog at Shoot Retouch.
Read more…
October is a very interesting month. Many of the summer flowers are still in the market but since it is the end of their nature blooming schedule, they are starting to not look as good. Dahlias, garden roses, and sweet peas might be at the end.
For your consideration, Wedding of the Year #3 featuring Aqua, Pool, Marine blues with white and chocolate brown accent. The bride and groom, Carmen and Vincent, were just terrific throughout the entire planning process.
The key words were - Modern, Contemporary, Fun, Relaxed, Playful, Simple, Elegant. Components in the design that were imported included Lanterns, dainty Blossoms, Water, Blue Soda, and Parasols.
Photography by the talented Ellen Ho who came down from Vancouver to cover this wedding.
Wedding #2, that is also a FAVE wedding of the year, features soft pinks, creams, and white whites. Details including this lovely invitation printed on a handkerchief and mailboxes are just a few that the bride, Lindsey incorporated in her San Francisco Wedding.
Could this beautiful wedding in Fairfax at the Meadow Club, photographed by Cliff Brunk, be the wedding of this year. This is Wedding #1 - In the Meadow, featuring green orchids, hydrangea, mini callas, fiddlehead, dahlias, ’super green’ roses, pom pom mums, and dark foliage. Details included birds, bird nest ring bearer pillow, haystacks, a vintage car, and floral motif. Invitations by Hello! Lucky. Rentals and lighting by Hartmann Studios. Photography by Brunk Photography. Floral and Event Design by Nancy Liu Chin Designs.
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Nancy @ Nancy Liu Chin Designs, San Francisco
Vendor: Florist
Website: Nancy Liu Chin Designs
About Me: A San Francisco native, Nancy graduated from the University of California - Berkeley's Haas Business School where she studied finance and marketing. Beyond running her floral studio, Nancy is a huge fan of Top Chef, loves to travel to exotic locations, is an avid reader of contemporary fiction and considers herself on Team Edward (Twilight fan!), entertains friends in her loft style home in San Francisco's SOMA neighborhood, and can be found at SF Giant's home games. Nancy and her husband, Kevin are a dynamic pair and can be frequently seen walking their white Bichon Frisee, Chin Chin around the city and lounging at cafes sipping Italian sodas.
